Composting manure

Forms	Solid
	Liquid
Solid
Site selection	The area needs to be well drained Under shade Protect from wind, sun and running water
Equipment	Four pits
	1 x 2 metres and 15 cm deep. Can be built up to any height
	Ensure that the bottom of the pit soil is loosened to ensure good contact between composting material and organisms
Method	Run four pits
Pit 1 Preparation	Vital to get the initial mixture right – working to a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 30:1
	Ensure all plastic materials are removed from anything going into the compost heap
	Move pit 1 contents to pit 2(once system in progress)
	Place the following layers onto the loosened soil
	Hard plant materials – maize corn stalks
	Green grass materials
	Soil plus ash (to neutralize acid in faeces)
	Dry grass waste – animal bedding
	Animal manure and animal feed wastes
	Green grass materials
	Soil plus ash
	Repeat the next day for the next month.
	After making each days compost cover heap with grass to stop drying
Pit 2 Maturation	After one month move pit 2 contents to pit 3
	Fill pit 2 with the contents of pit 1
	Add water to the pit
	Cover with grasses
Pit 3 Aeration	After one month move pit 2 contents to pit 3
	Each day turn pit 3 and add water each day.
	Cover with grasses to stop compost drying out
Pit 4 Storage	After one month move pit 3 contents to pit 4
	Pit 4 is a storage pit. Prepare the solid compost for use or sale.
Note	If you have large amounts of faeces the compost piles may have to work once a weekly rather than monthly.
Initial layers Covering Soil Manure Water Dry grass Soil/ash Green Grass Covering Repeat
Liquid
Method	Obtain a large water container – cleaned drum
	Liquid manure will be made with a ratio of 3:1 water to faeces
	Place manure into a sisal sac
	Tie the sac top with a rope
	Suspend the sisal sack in a container full of water
	Leave for 2 weeks
	Prepare liquid manure for use or sale
Uses
Solid	For all crops. Ideally place before crops grown
	Very useful for Banana crops
Liquid	Apply to fruit crops at the roots. Do not apply to the leaves
	Ideal for tomatoes, peppers etc
	Ideal for restricted environments ie pots or plastic bags